It was 6 p.m., and the Singhania mansion buzzed with its usual evening energy. Kashish was standing near the mandir, carefully pouring ghee into the Aarti Thaali, just as Jeevika chachi had asked her to. Piyali was busy sketching out ideas on her iPad for an interior project, while Paridhi was finishing up a client call.

(Aarti Thali is a platter, where a lamp is lit wick is waved in a circular motion to honor  God )

As soon as Paridhi ended her call, Jeevika came and noticed Kashish pouring Ghee into the Diya (lamp). She stepped closer and said, almost sharply, "Kashish, are you using only Ghee? I don't use just ghee, I always mix sesame oil in it. I shouldn't have to tell you this but of course, you're new here."

Without waiting for a reply, Jeevika took the aarti thaali from her hands and went straight to the mandir.

The sudden rise in tone left Kashish frozen. She wasn't used to anyone raising their voice at her, her face fell, and she stood there stunned, fingers still stiff from holding the thaali a moment ago.

Piyali quickly put her iPad aside and came near, while Paridhi too walked over, concern written on her face. "Kashish, it's okay," Piyali said softly "Don't take Maa's words to heart." Paridhi added gently, "She's just very particular about traditions. That's all."

Piyali rested a hand on Kashish's arm, giving her a small smile said while taking a bowl of ghee from her hand "You leave all this and go to your room, hmm? Relax for a while. When Kabir comes, I'll send coffee for both of you in your room." And Kashish with still frozen goes to her room.

Kabir"s POV

As I entered the room, my body was heavy with exhaustion from the long AIIMS board meeting and endless patient check-ups at the hospital. And that's when I noticed Kashish sitting at the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on the floor, lost in thoughts. I dropped my blazer and bag onto the couch, 

"Kashish," I called gently while walking towards her. No response. She didn't even look up. I went closer, "Kashish..."

Still nothing. Just the same silence, her eyes glued downwards. I placed my hand softly on her shoulder. She flinched slightly, shook her head, and finally murmured, "Ha... ha Kabir... when did you come?"

Seeing her like this, I sat beside her quietly. Without a word, she suddenly leaned into me and hugged me tight. It was the very first time since our marriage that she had hugged me like this. Her fingers clutched my shirt, her head buried deep in my chest.

For a moment, I hesitated, then slowly wrapped my arms around her and stroked her back. "Kashish what's wrong? Please tell me. Don't scare me like this."

She lifted her face after a while, her eyes glistening. Wiping her tears quickly, she whispered, "I'm sorry, I cried in front of you again."

I cupped her face lightly. "You don't need to apologize for that. You can cry in front of me, Kashish. You can share whatever is on your mind. I'm your husband."

She shook her head, forcing a weak smile. "It's nothing." She started to get up, but I caught her hand and gently pulled her back down and I said her "Kashish, no. Tell me. I'm not letting you leave this room until you say what's bothering you."

Her lips trembled before she finally spoke "I was adding ghee in the Diya for Jeevika chachi's aarti thaali . She came and told me she never uses only ghee, she always adds sesame oil too.

Kashish looked into my eyes and contunied saying " Kabir, no one has ever raised their voice on me before, hearing that, even if it was small, it hurt, chachi said I should've known these things, but I'm new here. I swear, Kabir, I'm trying so hard. I'm learning every little thing, I'm doing my best to be perfect—"

I cut her off softly, holding her hand tighter " Kashish hey, look at me, Who told you that you need to be perfect, Be yourself. If you don't know some things, that's completely fine. Didn't I tell you before? Don't stress over things. No one will judge you. And as for chachi, she's very spiritual, sometimes even Piyali bhabhi gets her scolding. Don't take it to heart."

"I know it stung, and I'm sorry you felt that way. Chachi has lived in this house for years, these rituals are second nature to her. She forgets sometimes that it's all new for you."

He tilted her chin up so she'd meet his eyes. "And you Kashish, you don't have to prove yourself to anyone. You're already a part of this family. Mistakes, slips, learning it's all part of the journey. Don't carry it like a burden. Chachi will see your efforts, just give it time and till then, let me be the one to remind you, you're doing beautifully." He added gently, "I'll ask Maa to speak with Jeevika Chachi." Kashish shook her head softly. "No, it's okay. I'm not really hurt, it's just the tone felt foreign to me. No one has ever spoken to me that way before." Kabir reached for her hand, his voice steady yet tender. "Then I'll make sure no one ever does again."

Her tears welled again, but this time she managed a faint laugh and said "I just didn't want to sound like one of those typical daughters-in-law who go around complaining about their in-laws to their husbands."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "For a moment, I really thought I had stepped into a daily soap."

She gave me a small glare and lightly hit my arm, which only made me laugh harder. Just then, there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find a staff member with two mugs of coffee. I thanked him, shut the door, and handed one mug to Kashish. We sat together, side by side, sipping our coffee in the quiet comfort of our room.

Kashish's POV

As we sat together with our evening coffee, Kabir looked at me over his cup, his eyes sharp yet soft, and said, "In morning, You single-handedly led an architectural AIIMS board meeting in front of doctors and surgeons twice your age and now you're upset here, overthinking how to be perfect. God, I think I need to start reading books on how to handle wives who overthink."

I frowned a little, replying quietly, "Kabir, stop it, it's not every time I overthink." He leaned back, a half-smile tugging at his lips, "You can overthink as much as you want, Kashish. I'm always here to untangle it for you."

Those words so steady, so unshaken calmed the storm of nerves in me. The man in front of me, exhausted and worn out from his long day, still makes sure I'm at ease. He notices if I'm comfortable, if I'm worried, if I need grounding and he does it without fail.

In these Six days of our arranged marriage, one thing is certain this bond, however new, is already shaping into a promise. I find myself looking forward to what life will bring before us, and how we'll face it together.

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That's all for today. 

Hello Pristians

Tell me how did this one feel to you?
Did you connect with Kashish's emotions? And Kabir was he the kind of husband you'd want in such a moment? 

I'd love to know your thoughts, drop them in the comments.

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